Because I was on the Disney Channel watching “SALLY” tonight, I also watched the first five episodes of “The Mickey Mouse Club” originally broadcast in 1955. These are very clean prints, right out of the archive, uncut.
Right away I felt like a kid again. I missed the original run on ABC but these were shown in repeats throughout the 1960’s as well.
The kids were so young but boy, did I love seeing Darlene, Sharon, Doreen, Karen and Annette, etc. again, looking like babies. I had giant crushes on all of them when I was in kindergarten. Cheryl showed up in the second season, loved her too (duh!)
But after watching these episodes, what stood out for me was the heart and soul of the program is obviously Jimmie Dodd.
Now that I am older than he ever was, it is obvious to me that it was his world and the cast was just living in it. I mean that in a good way.
He was so good, so natural, he just carried everything. Walt heard him do one song and hired him on the spot, 7 year contract. Such a wise choice for a kids’ show anchor. He was the best.
Not only was he a great host, but he wrote all the songs on the show, including the famous theme, played at the start and the end of each show. Genius.
Jimmie Dodd died very young and I remember hearing the news in 1964 and feeling like I lost a real friend, he was that good.
